Slicing machine



Feb. l2, 1935. c. T. WALTER 1,991,304-

sLIGING MACHINE Filed Nov. 27, 1931 s sheets-sheet 1` Cjlle Z" Zl/ltel INVENTOR ATTORNEY 2 :U 8 ,4 5 1 1 3 2 9 1 4 1 w u- @a "u f 2 d..

Feb. l2, 1935. v Q T, WALTER 1,991,304

' sLIcING MACHINE Filed Nov.- 27, 1931 vS5 Sheets-Sheet 2 ATTORNEY c. T. WALTER sLIGING MACHINE FebD E2, R35

Filed Nov. 27, 1931 5 Sheets-Sheet 3 INVENTOR WITNES$- Patented Feb. 12, .1935 C .,lgglM UNI-TED". STATES lPAil-EN'I OFFICE ,Y .i .1,991,304 Y SLICING MACHINE*` A Charles T.vWa1ter, Chicago, Ill., assignor'to Swift and Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of .n Illinois Y 'Y I v Application November 27, 1931, Serial No. 577,443

' v 9 Claims.. (or. 14o-t5) The invention relates to a bacon slicing mapairs andthe worm threads 4 'ofthe' adjacentw chine. Y j Y rollers spiral in opposite directionslto .neutralize The objectv of the present invention vis tofiinside thrust andtoenable'theslabs offbacon to be'v prove the'construction of bacon slicing'rnachines, fed"V forwardly: to the rotarylslicing "knife in a 5 more especially the means for feeding a slab fof straight direction without "any lateral movement 5 bacon to the .cutting element, and to provide a induced by the wormthreaded conveyor rollers.- simple, practical and ercient bacon slicing xna- These conveyor rollersare positioned s'othat the chine equipped with conveyor rolls having worm upper surfaces of the .several rollers extend'i along threads for feeding the bacon and arranged to'and are tangent to a' horizontalplane' common to neutralize and eliminate side thrust so that a slab allfof the` rollers, whereby ,ajflat' stripof bacon 10 of bacon will be fed inastraight line to the cut'. is maintainedsubstantially"flat while being con-1, ting element without any material play or move- Veyed in a forward longitudinal `*direction bythe ment-'induced by the spiral conveyor rollers. rollers tothefrotary slicing'fknife, While vtwo A further object of the invention is to provide pairs .of reversely threaded Worm conveyors are a Vbacon slicing vmachine oi this character `in illllStrateClin the aCCOYIlpallying'draWingS, itWll l5 which the usual gap which commonly occurs bebe clear that the number 0f DairS f`COIlVy0r y tween the end of the conveyor and the cutting elerollers may benvaried. These feed-rollers collecment will be eliminated and the conveyor enabled tively PrOVidGJWhat may be termed-a'ieediilg Or, to form a supportior`A the bacon closely adjacent feed table'llporl 'andby WhiChiiatSlabSfOf'baCOn l the knife blade of the cutting element.

Another object of theinvention is to eliminate the rotary SliCiIlg knife 2. 1 y l the bearings of the conveyor rollersatpthe ends The bar/O11 SliCiIlg mahihefis PrOVidd With a adjacent the cutting element and to provide a Suitable frameWOrk'faiid the, Spiral i Worin supportmg means for the conveyor rollers which threaded COHVeyOrrOllerSat their frOIit 01 Outer can be fed in a longitudinal forward direction to 20" win Vafford the rollers e. lcontinuous. support r ends terminate closely adiaoent'the rotorsr slicing 25".

throughout their length and maintain the rollers knife tOelimiIlate the gap .which 'commonly O0-l in proper position bygravity. l cursbetween the rotary slicing element and the With these ena other` objects in view, the invenadjacent end of the conveyor. l'l'.liese conveyor.. tion consists in the construction and novel coinrOllelS are IIlOllIlted in a Cradle bearing 5 arranged bination' and arrangement of parts hereinafter in a hOriZOrltal POSitiOrl' beneath the COIIVEYOT 30 fully described, illustrated inthe aooompanying rollers and extending across the frame ofthe ma# drawingsyand set forth in the claims *hereto ap Chine and rigidly Secured t0 the Sama at ODDO- pended, it being understood that various changesAV Site sides thereof by yscrews'. orVV bolts 6 or other in the form proportion and minor details of con- Suitablev 4fastening means- K The Cradle bearing, struction, within the scope of theolaims, mayV be Which may beff' ally .Sliit'flfllleA material, COIlDeIl 35 resorted to Without departing irom'the spirit of SateS fOr laCk 01 axial SllIJ'DOItfr ,the '.CIIVGYO the invention or sacrificing any of the advanrollers and'oonsists of areetaneular body provided tagesthereoi. 1 y l l I In the drawings: and having journal bearings 8`at the inner orrear '40 Figure 1 is a side e1evation of a baoon'slioing ends of the grooves, which are segmental in cross vkic machine constructed in accordance with thisY in- Section tOCOllOrm tth @Orillgllratioh ofthe CI- vention.v i' i Veyor rollers.. The conveyorrollers rest upon the '.l Fig. 2 is a -longitudinal sectional vieW taken4 Curved Walls Of the lOOttOmSO the fi'rOOi/'BST,andVv substontianyon the line 2 2 of Fig. 3. are supported throughout their entire length and in its upper face with roller receivinggrooves .'I`r

4.5 Fig- 3 isa transverse sectional view taken subare maintained mrroper position by gravity. The 45" stantially on the line 3--3 of Fig. 2. L bearingy grooves '7, which extendlong'itudinally of Y Fig. 4 is a horizontal sectional View taken subthev bacon 'slicing machine, reliQVe the journal stantially on the line 4-4 of Fig. 2. g bearings. offstrain,V andthe said' conveyor rollers In the accompanying' drawings, in which is` are provided at their' inner or. rear ends with suitillustrated the preferred embodiment. of the `in` able shaft extensions or journals 9 .which ,pro 50' yvention, the slabsl of bacon are fedfto a conl ject beyorldthe innerer rear fend of the cradle ventional rotary slicingknifeZ by worm threaded be'aring'andv have mounted on them spurfgearl conveyor or feedroller's which'are preferably V'fourv Wheels 1,0r forming a trainfof gears which Connect f yin number and extend longitudinally of the'bacon the conveyor rollers andcause the adjacent rollersY 'slicing machine. The rollers' are arranged in to rotatein'opposite directionsto effect aforward |55r in suitable feeding of the slabs of bacon by the spiral Webs or flanges 4. 'I'he journal bearings are omitted at the front or outer ends of the conveyor rollers, which present flat surfaces at their front ends adjacent the inner face of the rotary knife 2.

The roller gears mesh with one another, and one of the said gears meshes with a spur gear wheel 1l of a short longitudinal Shaft 12 journaled in a suitable bearing 13 of the framework of the machine and provided at one end with the said spur gear wheel 11 and at the other end with a bevel gear wheel 14 which meshes with a bevel gear wheel 15 of a lower transverse shaft 16. The lower transverse shaft 16, which is journaled in a suitable bearing 17 at one side of the frame of the machine, projects beyond the said side of the machine and is provided at its outer end with a pulley 18 which connected, by.v a belt 19 with a pulley 20 of an upper transverse shaft 21. The upper transverse shaft 21,' Which is journaledA lin a suitable bearing 22 of the frameV ofthe `machine,projects beyond the same and is` provided at its outer'end with the said pulley20'. The inner lend of the transverse shaft 21 is providedyvith a bevel gear 23 whichmeshes with a bevel gear 24 mounted on a longitudinal'power driven shaft 25 which carries the rotary cutting element 2. Theshaft`25, whichis located at the topof the frame of the machine, is journaled bearings 26 and 27 thereof and the rotary4 cutting element is secured tol the outer or front end of the said shaft 25, which is provided at its innerA or rear end with'a pulley'y2 which is `connected by a belt 29 with a pulley 30 of the shaft 3l of an electric motor y43, but any other suitable form of motor may, of course, be employed, and any other suitable means may be provided for connecting the motor with the knife carryingv shaft 25 of the slicing machine. When the motor is in operation the shaft 25 is `rotated and motion is communicated from the shaft 25 through the upper and lower bevel gears and the belt 19 to the conveyor rollers for feedinrg'slabs of bacon to the rotary cutting element.

The slabs Aof bacon which are flat are main-V tained in contact with the conveyor or feed rollers` superimposed npressure by means of a plurality of or presser rollers 32located above and resting upon the slabs of bacon in the machine and urged downwardly by coiled springs 33. The pressure rollers, which extend transversely of the machine, are preferably cylindrical and are provided attheir ends with journals 34 which are mounted in vertically movable bearing blocksA 35 arranged contiguous to one another and located lat both ends of the pressure rollers and'provided with Vvertical rods 36 which are slidable in guide openings 37 ofv longitudinal guide bars 38 adjustably secured to `the frame of the machine at opposite` sides thereof by 4slot and bolt connections 39 and 40 for varying the tension of theV the sides of the frame of the machine, as. clearly 70.. cally independently of one another to permit the springs and the pressure of the upper rollers 32 upon the slabs of bacon. The guide bars 38 ,consist of angle bars having vertical and horizontal flanges, the vertical flanges being fitted against illustrated in Fig. 3 of the drawingsand thehorizontalflanges projecting inwardly from Vthe sides of the frame and provided with the guide openings 37. The bearing blocks 35 are slidable vertipressure rollers to adjust themselves to inequalities in ,thev upper surface of the slabs ofy bacon. Thepresser rollers 32 being cylindricaland the conveyor rollers being arranged so that a reladownward movement of the pressure rollers, but

any other suitable form of stop may, of course, be provided. The bars 38 are adapted to be raised or-lowered by means of the slot and bolt connections39and40 to vary the spring pressure of the rollers 32 upon the slabs of bacon.

TheV frame of the machine is provided at the inner or rear end with a suitable tabie or platform 42 to receive the slabs of bacon, which are moved forwardly by hand to engage the front endv of the bacon between the superimposed pressure rollers and the lower conveyor rollers, and when a slabof bacon is properly engaged between the upper pressure rollers and the lower conveyor rollers, it will be positively fed forward in a straight line by the. worm threaded conveyor rollers or shafts without any lateral movement, and the said rolleiyconveyors, which terminate in a plane adjacent Ato the inner face of the rotary knife 2, support the bacon while the same is being. cut. Byeliminating the journal bearings at the front or outer ends of the conveyor rollers, the gap or space which is commonly left between the ends of the conveyor and the cutting4 element is closed, thereby providing both a feed and a support for the front or outer end of the bacon to practically the plane of the inner face of the knife 2.

What is claimed is: v

' 1. A bacon slab slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means for feeding .the material to the cutting element including horizontally and longitudinally disposed conveyor rollers journaled only at their inner or rear ends and having their, front Yendsnarr'anged contiguous to the cutting element, thereby eliminating any gap between the end of the feeding means and the cutting element, which said conveying rollers are disposed so that the rupper feedingsurfaces thereof all lie in a, common horizontally extending plane, transversely and horizontally disposed longitudinally-spaced cylindricalv presser rollers arranged above the conveyor rollersand spring means for yieldably pressing .the presser rollers downwardly ktoward the conveyor rollers for continuously pressing andmaintaining material being sliced into feeding Contact with the several conveyor rollers.

-2.VA slicing machine including a cutting element, means for feeding material to the cutting element including longitudinally disposed conveyor rollers arranged `in pairs and mounted against vertical, movement-'in horizontal alignment and all of substantially-the same Vdiameter throughout their lengths, ,the adjacent rollers having worm threads throughout theirlengths spiralling in opposite directions, gears'connecting the rollers for rotating yadjacent rollers inopposite directions, and presser rollers arranged transverselyfabove the, conveyor rollers'forenend of the slab ,of4

'1,991,304 l forV engagement with the material fed by the 3. A slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means for feeding the material to the cutting element including` longitudinally disposed conveyor rollers disposed in horizontal alignment and journaled only at their inner ends and have ing their front ends arranged contiguous to the with the conveyor rollers.

the cutting element, means to support the conthe vperipheral edges of the spiral flanges of the` 4, A slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means for feeding the material to the cut" ting element including longitudinally disposed conveyor rollers disposed in'horizontal alignment and journaled only at their inner ends and-'having their front ends arranged contiguous to the cutting element and eliminating undue gap between the outer ends of the conveyor rollers and veyor rollers between the ends thereof, and means including transversely disposed vertically yieldable presser rollers for continuously pressing material downwardly against the conveyor rollers to insure the forward longitudinal feeding of the material by said conveyor rollers.V

5. A slicing machine Vcomprising a frame, a

vcutting element, means for feeding material to the VcuttingV element including longitudinally disposed conveyor rollers mounted in horizontal alinement and alll of substantially the samediameter throughout their lengths and each having its outer end contiguous to the cutting element tov reduce to substantially a minimum the gap between the cutting element and the feeding means, the adjacent rollers having spiral flanges extending throughout the lengths thereof and projecting outwardly at a right angle to the plane of the rollers, the convolutions of the flanges being spaced apart and the peripheral edges .thereof supporting the meat above the bodies by the roll` ers across the spiral channels formed by theV convolutions of said spiral flanges, and gears connecting the rollers for rotating'adjacent rollers in opposite directions.

6. A slicing machine comprising a frame, a cutting element, means for feedingmaterial to the cutting element including longitudinally disposed conveyor rollers ofsubstantially the same diameter throughout their lengths and arranged in pairs relatively close together in horizontal'aline-v ment, the adjacent rollers having spiral flanges extending therefrom in opposite directions, to neutralize side thrust and prevent tendency toward cross feeding of the material, the periph'- eral edges of'said spiral flanges supporting the material above the bodies of the rollers, gearing conveyor rollers to maintain the material in feedf ing contact with the peripheral edges of said spiral ianges.- 1` Y.

'7. A slicing machine comprising a frame, a cutting element, means fork feeding material tothe cutting element including longitudinally disposed` conveyor rollers having their outer ends disposed close to the cutting element to practically eliminate gap between the cutting element and the outer ends of the rollers, the' rollers having reversely arranged spiral flanges projecting outwardly from the rollers and extending in opposite p rial to maintain the same in feeding contact with conveyor rollers.

`8. A bacon slab slicing machine comprising a cutting element,- means for feeding the slabto the cutting element including longitudinally disposed conveyor rollers journalled only at their inner ends and having their front ends contiguous to the cutting element so as to eliminate undue gap between the outer end of the feeding means and the cutting element, said conveyor rollers all lying relatively close together in the same horizontal plane, and spring actuated presser rollers arranged transverselyA above the conveyor rollers for continuously yieldably pressingy upon and maintaining the slab in feeding engagement kwith the conveyor rollers. .9. A bacon slab slicing machine comprising a cutting element, means for feeding `the slabto the cutting element including longitudinally disposed conveyor rollers of substantially the same kdiameterthroughout their lengths and arranged to neutralize side thrust and prevent tendency to- Ward cross feeding of the material, the peripheral edges of the spiral flanges supporting the material above the bodies of the rollers, meansr connecting the rollers for rotating adjacent rollers opposite directions, and presserrollers Varranged transversely above the conveyor-rollers for engagement withv the material fed by the conveyor rollers to maintain the material 'in feed-y ing contact with the peripheral edges of said spiral flanges. Y i

, CHARLES T. VWALTER. 

